Adventures in Food, Fellowship, and Culture for GU Students in Madrid
Published: April 13, 2021
If the idea of study abroad strikes you as exciting and scary at the same time, partners with GU in international study have two words for you: No worries. Instructors from GUs Experience Spain Study Abroad (ESSA) program were on campus recently to talk about the ease of studying in Spain.
Through the ESSA program, GU partners with Free Methodist congregation New Light and Life Christian Community Church in Madrid, Spain, to offer students a semester of study in Spain. Students attend classes taught by staff from the Mosaic Cultural Center in Rivas Vaciamadrid, a suburb of Madrid, and attend church with the New Light and Life congregation.
This August, two staff members from the Mosaic Cultural Center visited GU to cultivate awareness of the program. Carlos Garcia, the Mosaic Cultural Centers cultural events coordinator, and Jose Hernandez, the centers community liaison, offered students five reasons to study in Madrid.
1. You engage deeply with foreign cultures.
ESSA students live with host families in Madrid, experiencing the everyday rhythms of life in a Spanish city suburb. Think sharing fresh bread from the local bakery with the host family every morning, and learning the delightful art of siestaa.k.a. the afternoon nap.
Meanwhile, classes offer a holistic primer on the basics of life in Spain: literature, music, history, and more. This includes class trips to destinations across the country. Previous ESSA students have visited Barcelona, Seville, Granada, the Canary Islands, Spanish Civil War cemeteries, and other destinations. Garcia and Hernandez teach most of the classes.
In addition, Hernandez explains, Spain is a nation of nations. Citizens from around the globe comprise Spains population, granting ESSA students access to a host of ideas and multicultural perspectives. Hernandez local church congregation and neighborhood include residents from the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Peru, Romania, Senegal, and many more European nations.
Students do more than meet people from across Europe. They see Europe for themselves. ESSA classes run Monday through Thursday to give students time for travel on the weekends. From Madrid, students reach destinations like Germany, France, Portugal, and others, quickly and cheaply.
2.You dont have to know Spanishhonest!
It may seem hard to believe, but Hernandez and Garcia insist that students dont need strong Spanish proficiency to enjoy the trip.
Garcia utilizes English frequently in class at the start of the semester, transitioning to more Spanish as students increase their proficiency. And, says Hernandez, Americans are always well received in Spain; most Spanish citizens make an effort to understand and communicate with English-speaking visitors, so students find a warm welcome when theyre out on the town.
Add to this the safety factorMadrid is known for its safe subway system and safe atmosphere for pedestrians at nightand students with minimal Spanish need not fear stepping out.
3.The food! The food! Did we mention the food?
Veteran ESSA students often rave about the food they enjoyed in Madrid.
As a member of the European Union, Spain adheres to strict laws limiting chemicals in food, making for fresher-tasting meals. In addition, Spains food culture operates on what Hernandez calls the pre-Wal-Mart model: groceries come from specialized shops such as the local butcher, baker, and produce distributor.
You have a diversity of dishes according to region, Hernandez explains. Catalonia, Andalusia, Basque Country, the Canary Islands, and more. Each region boasts distinct dishes and flavors.
For the best food experience, Hernandez advises students to be adventurous and not fall back on familiar chain restaurants while in Madrid.
4.Youll discover multicultural Christian fellowship.
Students attend New Light and Life Christian during their stay in Madrid. Also, the Mosaic Center offers chapel for students every Wednesday. Through the congregation and the center, students meet missionariessome close to their own agefrom all over the world.
Just as the spirit of exploration enriches students cultural knowledge and gastronomic adventures, they also enjoy the opportunity to visit historic cathedrals across Europe, or frequent other congregations in Madrid. Some large congregations such as Hillsong have campuses in Madrid.
5.You benefit from an expanded worldview.
Hernandez believes students benefit from leaving familiar surroundings. Raised in Puerto Rico, he grew up in a self-described small bubble. Only after relocating to Florida as an adult did Hernandez realize what it meant to explore a world beyond his childhood home. Hes since traveled to Latin America, China, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt.
Based on his experiences as a traveler, Hernandez believes studying abroad can help a student to become more complete, beyond what theyll learn in the classroom setting.
Hernandez says that the wider world can seem very abstract if you havent seen it, walked it, tasted it. He regards the college years as an especially fruitful time to undertake the life-changing step of world travel.
He encourages all students interested in the ESSA program to contact Faith Nava, GUs study abroad coordinator, for information. Email faith.nava@greenville.edu or reach her at 618-664-7192.
Bonus Opportunity
Some students cant fit a semester abroad into their busy schedules, or may need to wait a couple of years to do so. GU now offers a shorter option to visit Spain! This January during Interterm, Andrews Chair in Christian Unity Ben Wayman will teach a class on scriptural interpretation in Madrid, utilizing the dislocation of foreign travel to help students view scripture in new ways. Learn more.
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Greenville University World Outreach and Missions
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